Juan Luis Guerra Earns 12th No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with “Mambo 23”

Juan Luis Guerra has returned to the top of the charts…

The 66-year-old Dominican Grammy-winning musician, singer, composer and record producer is back at the summit of Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart as “Mambo 23” advances 3-1 to lead the November 25-dated list.

Juan Luis GuerraThe new champ arrives nine years after he last led through “Tus Besos” in 2014, for one week in charge.

“Mambo 23” climbs to No. 1 with a 9% gain in audience impressions, to 4.45 million, earned during the November 10-16 tracking week, according to Luminate. The song, released September 22 via Rimas, is the first single from Guerra’s recently released EP Radio Güira.

With the new champ, Guerra collects his 12th No. 1 on Tropical Airplay and breaks a tie with India for the eighth-most, a score led by Marc Anthony with 35 champs since the ranking began in 1994.

Here’s the scoreboard:

35, Marc Anthony
29, Victor Manuelle
23, Prince Royce
18, Romeo Santos
14, Elvis Crespo
14, Gilberto Santa Rosa
13, Jerry Rivera
12, Juan Luis Guerra 440
11, India

Guerra last landed at the summit with “Tus Besos” in 2014. (He notched seven hits between “Tus Besos” and “Mambo 23,” including six top 10s.)

The nine-year span becomes the longest between No. 1s since Don Omar took an equal nine years (and eight months) to dominate Tropical Airplay with the one-week ruler “Dutty Love,” featuring Natti Natasha (April 2012) and “Se Menea,” with Nio García, (Dec. 2021).

“Mambo 23” rules the tropical ranking as it ejects Chayanne’s “Bailando Bachata” from its 14-week domination; along with Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata,” the third-longest run this decade, both with 14 weeks atop.

The pair trail Prince Royce’s “Carita de Inocente” with 29 weeks at No. 1, the most in the 2020’s decade, and Daddy Yankee and Marc Anthony’s “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta” (22 weeks in charge).

Elsewhere, “Mambo 23” lifts 25-21 on the overall Latin Airplay, Guerra’s highest rank since “Muchachita Linda” reached No. 15 in October 2015.

Feid to Perform at Los Angeles’ Calibash Festival in January

Feid is feelin’ (Cali)bashful…

The 31-year-old Colombian singer and songwriter is among an all-star lineup of Latin music luminaries set to take the stage at the Calibash festival.

FeidFeid is part of a roster than includes YandelFarrukoPrince RoyceYoung MikoMaria Becerra and Darell.

The event will take place on Friday, January 12, at the Crypto.com Arena in the heart of Los Angeles, and is presented by SBS Entertainment, LaMusica and Mega 96.3 FM.

“Calibash is the iconic live concert event of the year for Latin music fans,” stated Alessandra Alarcón, president of SBS Entertainment, in a press release. “We could not be happier with the lineups and with creating a spinoff of Calibash that reflects the totality of where music stands today.”

SBS Entertainment is expanding its horizons with the launch of Calibash MX, a Mexican live music concert brand that promises to showcase the brightest stars in Mexican music.

This inaugural counterpart is scheduled for Saturday, January 13, and will feature a stellar lineup that includes Grupo Frontera, Edgardo NuñezYng LvcasYahritza y Su Esencia and Conexión Divina.

“Mexican music has taken global music charts by storm and our generation is breathing new life into some of the formats’ biggest subgenres,” continued Alarcón. “The corrido-boom, as we like to call it, inspired us to grow the Calibash franchise with Calibash MX, a live concert that will showcase some of the hottest artists who are adding a unique and special twist to the different kinds of Mexican music.”

Tickets for this event will go on sale Friday, October 27, at 7:00 am PT. Open the LaMusica app or tune in to KXOL-FM Mega 96.3 for more updates leading to Calibash 2024.

Bad Bunny Ties J Balvin on YouTube’s List of Artists with Most Videos on Billion Views Club with 14

Bad Bunny is a YouTube sensation… 

The 29-year-old Puerto Rican Grammy-winning superstar has logged his 14th music video with more than 1 billion views on YouTube as a lead, featured artist or collaborator with his collaboration on Nacho’s “Báilame (Remix),” also featuring Yandel.

Bad BunnyBad Bunny now ties J Balvin’s record as the artist with the most videos in the Billion Views Club.

The official music video of the infectious “Báilame (Remix)” came out on August 11, 2017, and features Nacho, Yandel and a then-rising Bad Bunny performing the song together. Nacho’s original track peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Latin Songs chart in October 20217.

Earlier this year, Bad Bunny earned his 13th title in the coveted video club with his collaboration on J Balvin’s “Si Tu Novio Te Deja Sola,” also released in 2017. Other of his titles on the list include “Te Bote (Remix),” “Mayores,” and “No Me Conoce (Remix)” — all of which have now surpassed 2 billion views.

Bad Bunny’s next five videos in line to enter the Billion Views Club are: Lunay, Daddy Yankee & Bad Bunny’s “Soltera (Remix)”; Prince Royce, J Balvin, Bad Bunny, DJ Luian & Mambo Kingz’s “Sensualidad”; Bad Bunny’s “Yonaguni”; Arcángel & Bad Bunny’s “Me Acostumbré”; and Farruko, Bad Bunny and Rvssian’s “Krippy Kush.”

J Balvin and Bad Bunny previously surpassed previous titleholders Ozuna and Justin Bieber.

Chayanne’s “Bailando Bachata” Rises to No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart

Chayanne is back at the summit…

Nine weeks after capturing his first top 10 in more than 14 years on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay chart, the 55-year-old Puerto Rican Latin pop singer and actor is back in command – with his first No. 1 since 2008 – as “Bailando Bachata” rises 2-1 to rule the August 5-dated list.

Chayanne The song earns Greatest Gainer honors for the week fueled by an 18% increase in audience impressions, to 8.9 million, earned in the week ending July 27, according to Luminate.

“Honestly, I always do things because I feel them and since we started working on the album, bachata was considered,” Chayanne tells Billboard. “With the excessive amount of competition these days I wasn’t expecting it, but I am very grateful for this No. 1.”

“Bailando Bachata” is the third single from Chayanne’s forthcoming studio album (released date TBD). It follows two top 10 singles: “Te Amo y Punto” and “Como Tú y Yo” reached No. 6 and No. 7, respectively on Latin Pop Airplay in late 2022.

“Bailando Bachata” tops the list 14 years after Chayanne’s last leader, “Amor Inmortal,” dominated for five weeks in late 2008. The over 14-year window between new rulers is the longest gap by any artist since December 2016, when Jennifer Lopez ended a 17-year wait between No. 1s when “Olvídame y Pega La Vuelta,” with Marc Anthony, topped the list. It was her first No. 1 since “No Me Ames,” also with Marc Anthony, in 1999.

As bachata proliferates on a global level, more artists are basking on its popularity.

Notably, five of the six songs that have arrived at the summit on Tropical Airplay in 2023 belong to the genre. Here’s the recap:

Title, Artist, Peak Date, Total Weeks at No. 1
“Monotonia,” Shakira & Ozuna, Jan. 7 (nine)
“El Pañuelo,” Romeo Santos & Rosalia, Feb. 4 (four)
“La Bachata,” Manuel Turizo, Feb. 11 (14)
“Me EnRD,” Prince Royce, July 8 (four)
“Bailando Bachata,” Chayanne, Aug. 5

About the genre’s craze, Chayanne feels differently: “I love both bachata as much as all tropical rhythms. All the songs on the new album are special, I always surround myself with professionals and I only record what I feel I like, that suits me and that the public may like, not necessarily because there is a trend.”

As “Bailando Bachata” takes charge of Tropical Airplay, it ejects Prince Royce’s “Me EnRD” from its four-week command with a 17% dip in audience, to 8.4 million.

Further, “Bailando Bachata” concurrently delivers extra goods for Chayanne with a 5-3 lift on the overall Latin Airplay list, matching his career-high for almost a decade, as “Humanos a Marte” landed and at an equal No. 3 high in August 2014.

“In my case, inspirations go hand-in hand with rhythm and lyrics,” Chayanne adds. “I like songs that denote joy and invite to dance. This one most certainly will be included on my next tour; I want all to dance it with me.”

Prince Royce Earns 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “Me EnRD”

It’s a sweet sixteen for Prince Royce. 

The 34-year-old Dominican American bachata star has logged his 16th No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart thanks to “Me EnRD,” which ascends 4-1 on the July 29-dated ranking.

Prince Royce,With the new champ, Royce matches Carlos Vives for the second-most No. 1s by a tropical act, both with 16.

“Wow, happy with another No. 1 on Latin Airplay filled with colleagues from all different type of genres,” Royce tells Billboard. “Means so much, especially a song about DR where bachata was born.”

According to Luminate, “Me EnRD” crowns the all-Latin genre tally with 10.22 million audience impressions earned in the U.S. during the July 14-20 tracking week; that’s a 21% gain from the week prior.

Plus, it ousts Karol G and Shakira’s “TQG” from its two-week lead with a 7% dip in impressions, to 8.6 million. It falls to No. 3.

As “Me EnRD” ascends to the summit, Royce becomes the only artist to top Latin Airplay, unaccompanied by any other act — among the 15 rulers — in 2023. The last artist to pull off the feat was Maluma when “Junio” reigned for one week in October 2022.

As mentioned, with “Me EnRD” advancing from No. 4, Royce banks his 16th ruler and enters a tie with Vives for the second-most No. 1s among tropical acts, trailing only Romeo Santos who continues at the helm with 21.

Here’s the scoreboard of rulers by tropical acts on Latin Airplay since the chart launched in 1994:

21, Romeo Santos
16, Carlos Vives
16, Prince Royce
14, Marc Anthony
11, Gloria Estefan
6, Juan Luis Guerra y 440

“Me EnRD” was released on April 20 and lands at the penthouse on Latin Airplay in its 13th week. It concurrently takes the lead on Tropical Airplay, where Royce collects his 23rd champ.

Prince Royce Earns 23rd No. 1 on Billboard’s Tropical Airplay Chart with “Me EnRD”

It’s a perfect 10(th week) for Prince Royce.

The 34-year-old Dominican American bachata star has notched his 23rd No. 1 on Billboard’Tropical Airplay chart as “Me EnRD” lifts 2-1 to crown the July 8-dated ranking.

Prince Royce,

The song unseats Marshmello and Manuel Turizo’s “El Merengue” from the lead, after its 13-week domination (it falls to No. 2).

“Me EnRD” lands at No. 1 in its 10th week after a steady climb, including five weeks at No. 2. It crowns the survey with a 4% increase in audience impressions, to 8 million, earned in the U.S. during the June 23-29 tracking week, according to Luminate.

“Me EnRD” is just the second Tropical Airplay-ruling song by an artist unaccompanied by any other act in 2023, after Manuel Turizo’s “La Bachata,” which led for five weeks (a total of 14 weeks in charge).

With the 2-1 move, “EnRD” gifts Royce his 23rd champ, after Marc Anthony, who continues at the helm with 35 total No. 1s, and Victor Manuelle with 29.

Here’s the scoreboard with artists with the most No. 1s on Tropical Airplay since the chart begun in 1994:

35, Marc Anthony
29, Victor Manuelle
23, Prince Royce
18, Romeo Santos
14, Elvis Crespo
14, Gilberto Santa Rosa
13, Jerry Rivera

Beyond its Tropical Airplay coronation, “EnRD” makes progress on the overall Latin Airplay chart, with an 8-6 jump.

Maria Becerra to Receive Visionary Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Gala

Maria Becerra is a vision(ary)…

The 23-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTuber will be honored with the Visionary Award at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala.

Maria BecerraBecerra will be recognized along with Thalia, Ana Gabriel, Evaluna and Goyo at the two-hour special event taking place at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6, and airing on Telemundo and Universo on May 7.

The same evening, Shakira will be honored as Latin Woman of the Year.

Becerra, a pop/urban artist who began here career on YouTube in her teens and was nominated for a best new artist Latin Grammy in 2021, has had three entries on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including her hit “Qué más pues?” alongside J Balvin, as well as two top 10 hits on Latin Airplay (“Te espero” with Prince Royce, which reached No. 1; and “Extasis” with Manuel Turizo at No. 9).

She’s also placed five tracks on Latin Rhythm Airplay, including three on the top 10 (“Suelta” with Dímelo Flow, Farruko, Rauw Alejandro, Mr. Vegas and Fatman Sccop; “Berlin” with Zion & Lennox; and “Extasis”).

“Maria Becerra is receiving the Visionary award for developing a sound and aesthetic that are intensely personal, are all her own, and cross genres and styles,” says Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin and Español. “Maria is a visionary who has defied convention with extraordinary quality and distinctiveness. We are proud to honor this rising star with an immense future.”

As announced previously, Mexican icon Ana Gabriel will be honored as Living Legend; urban pop Argentine star Emilia will receive the Rising Star award; singer, actress and director Evaluna will receive the Tradition and Future award; Colombian rapper and singer Goyo will be honored as Agent of Change; and Mexican superstar Thalia will receive the Global Powerhouse award.

Another icon, Ivy Queen, will host the event alongside actress and host Jacky Bracamontes.

Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women In Music celebrates artists, executives and Latin creatives who are working proactively to generate positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.

Karol G Collects Eight Latin American Music Awards Trophies, Including Artist of the Year

Karol G is this year’s Latin American Music Awards darling…

The 32-year-old Colombian superstar was the big winner at the 2023 Latin AMAs, taking home eight awards, including artist of the year.

Karol GIn addition to the night’s top prize, Karol G took home Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year for her Becky G-collaboration “MAMIII.”

Becky G collected four awards, including Best Collaboration – Pop/Urban for the

Karol G-assisted girl anthem “MAMIII.”

The Mexican-American singer took the stage to say that women are stronger united.

“This is bigger than us. This is girl power. Thank you to the fans for supporting us.”

Overall, it was a big night for Música Mexicana with artists such as Grupo Frontera and Carin Leon also taking the stage for performances. Leon took the stage three times to perform solo, alongside Frontera and then again for a special medley to honor Legacy Award recipient Pepe Aguilar.

Other special honorees were Carlos Vives — who also received the Legacy Award — and David Bisbal and Prince Royce both took the Pioneer Award.

Additional winners include Bad Bunny, who took home three trophies, and Junior H, Rosalía, Shakira, Romeo Santos and The Weeknd each with two.

Here’s the complete list of Latin AMAs winners:

Song of the Year
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Collaboration of the Year
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Best Duo or Group – Pop
Jesse & Joy

Best Duo or Group – Regional Mexican
Grupo Firme

New Artist of the Year
Bizarrap

Best Collaboration – Regional Mexican
“Ya acabó” – Marca MP & Becky G

Best Collaboration – Tropical
“Monotonía” – Shakira & Ozuna

Best Crossover Artist
The Weeknd

Best Artist – Pop
Shakira

Best Artist – Tropical
Romeo Santos

Artist of the Year
Karol G

Album of the Year
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

Collaboration Crossover of the Year
“La fama” – Rosalía & The Weeknd

Streaming Artist of the Year
Karol G

Tour of the Year
$trip Love Tour – Karol G

Best Album – Pop
Motomami – Rosalía

Best Song – Pop
“Provenza” – Karol G

Best Artist – Urban
Karol G

Best Album – Urban
Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

Best Song – Urban
“Tití me preguntó” – Bad Bunny

Best Collaboration – Pop/Urban
“MAMIII” – Becky G & Karol G

Best Artist – Regional Mexican
Junior H

Best Album – Regional Mexican
Mi Vida En Un Cigarro 2 – Junior H

Best Song – Regional Mexican
“No se va (En vivo)” – Grupo Frontera

Best Album – Tropical
Fórmula, Vol. 3 – Romeo Santos

Best Song – Tropical
“La bachata” – Manuel Turizo

Erika Ender Sells Song Catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management

Erika Ender is cashing in…

Hipgnosis Song Management has acquired the song catalog of the 48-year-old Panamanian-American singer and songwriter, who co-wrote the 2017 smash hit “Despacito” alongside Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.

Erika EnderAccording to the company, Hipgnosis has acquired a 100% interest in Ender’s publishing copyrights — including the writer’s share of performance — in all songs in her catalogue published, released or utilized through her Sony Music Publishing deal from 2007 through 2019, which includes more than 25 No. 1 songs.

“Despacito,” originally released in January 2017 and later in a bilingual version with Justin Bieber, spearheaded a global Latin movement made possible by streaming. The remix peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — where it ruled for 16 weeks — and spent 56 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard‘Hot Latin Songs chart.

To date, the original version has more than 8 billion views on YouTube. It also won three Latin Grammy awards, including song and record of the year. The Bieber-assisted version received nominations for both song and record of the year at the 2018 Grammys.

Ender has also penned songs for other artists like Los Tigres del NorteChayanneGloria Trevi and Prince Royce.

In 2017, Ender became the youngest person to be inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The amount paid for Ender’s catalog was not disclosed but it further highlights the interest in Latin or Spanish-language music catalogs.

“Erika Ender has defined Latin music for the last 30 years,” Merck Mercuriadis, chief executive and founder of Hipgnosis Song Management, said in a statement. “Her more than 40 Number 1 singles have made her one of the most successful and influential songwriters of all time. Over the last 5 years Despacito has ruled the airwaves and helped to drive the new LATAM domination going to Number 1 in 47 countries, but Erika is so much more than that one song with a rich catalogue of many incredible songs. I’m delighted to welcome her to the Hipgnosis Family!”

“I am very excited about this partnership with Hipgnosis. I’ve always believed that music is eternal,” added Ender. “I’m confident my songs are in good hands with Merck and his team, and they will do their best to keep my catalogue active, present and alive, as they honor and recognize that the songs are the seeds to the entire music industry, the message that touches and marks people’s lives and where it all begins.”

Anuel AA to Perform at This Year’s Latin American Music Awards

Anuel AA is heading to the Latin American Music Awards

The first wave of performers has been announced for this year’s Latin AMAs, with the 30-year-old Puerto Rican rapper and singer among those set to take center stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

Anuel AAAnuel AA will perform “Más Rica Que Ayer” during the show.

Other performers include newlyweds Guaynaa and Lele Pons, who will perform a medley that includes their latest collaboration “Abajito”; Myke Towers, who will perform his newest track “Mi Droga”; and Prince Royce, who will surprise viewers with an unreleased song.

Additionally, Spanish newcomer Bad Gyal and Regional Mexican crooner Eden Muñoz will make their Latin AMAs debut. The former will deliver her single “Chulo,” and the latter will offer his viral solo hit “Chale!

Nominations for the 2023 awards — based on streaming, sales, radio airplay, tours, and even social media interactions data provided by Billboard and Luminate during the eligibility period (February 12, 2022, through February 4, 2023) — are led by Bad Bunny with 11 nominations. He’s followed by Becky G and Daddy Yankee, each with nine nominations; at eight nods each are Grupo Frontera, Karol G, Rauw Alejandro, Romeo Santos, and Rosalía.

Meanwhile, Muñoz, Bizarrap, Blessd, Grupo Frontera, Los Lara, Luis Figueroa, Luis R Conriquez, Quevedo, Santa Fe Klan and Yahritza y Su Esencia are nominated in the best new artist category.

Carlos Vives and Pepe Aguilar will be recognized as 2023 Latin AMAs Legacy honorees. This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by Galilea Montijo, Julián Gil and Natti Natasha.

For the first time since its debut on October 8, 2015, on Telemundo, the ceremony will be broadcast live simultaneously on Univision, UNIMÁS and Galavisión after TelevisaUnivision acquired the rights from dick clark productions in September.